Columbus, OH – Rea S. Hederman Jr., executive director of the Economic Research Center and vice president of policy at The Buckeye Institute, commented on the November jobs report from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. The federal government shutdown led to the cancellation of the October jobs report and a delay in the release of the November report. 

“Ohio’s delayed November jobs report continues the trend seen in the September report, with an improved unemployment rate of 4.5 percent—slightly better than the national average of 4.6 percent—and a downturn in the labor force participation rate to 62.3 percent—worse than the national average of 62.5 percent. 

“Despite the improved unemployment rate, November’s private-sector employment is 14,000 jobs below August’s peak, confirming that Ohio’s job market is weakening. The belated November report confirms that Ohio’s job market struggled in the fall of 2025, with private-sector employment falling since Labor Day and more Ohioans leaving the job market over the same period. What is unclear, and we won’t know until the December jobs report is released later this month, is whether Ohio’s job market has stabilized.”

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